Tony Steinhardt and Dave Williams in Old Miss Madison, July 2002

‘Madison’ Goes to Hollywood

Movie’s national release moved to Oct. 25 with MGM backing

Vintage Miss Madison boat makes exhibition runs at 2002 Madison Regatta

By Don Ward, Editor
(July 2002)

MADISON, Ind. (July 2002) – With the 2002 Madison Regatta now in the books, hydroplane racing fans in Madison are now anxiously awaiting the release of the movie, “Madison.”
After a couple of false starts, officials involved in a recent deal between Premiere Marketing & Distribution Group and MGM recently announced that the independent film, shot in part on location in Madison, Ind., would be released Oct. 25 to more than 2,000 theaters nationwide. The official MGM-Premiere Group movie poster was unveiled July 2 at a pre-Madison Regatta press party.
“This means it’s official; barring any unforeseen circumstances, the movie will be released this fall,” announced Tony Steinhardt, this year’s Madison Regatta president who served as technical advisor on the set of “Madison.”
Those associated with the movie had earlier announced an Aug. 23 release date but the date was moved to later in the fall to avoid conflicts with some other films that MGM had already scheduled to release in August, according to film company officials.

Dave Williams, July 2002

As part of a promotional effort for the movie, a vintage Unlimited hydroplane painted to look like the original Miss Madison was brought back to Madison from its home in Seattle for this year’s Madison Regatta. The boat, which formerly raced as the Savair’s Mist before being retired in 1969, is owned by the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum in Seattle. Museum executive director David Williams piloted the vintage craft in exhibition runs on the Ohio River on both Saturday and Sunday, July 6-7. Williams, who drove the boat in the movie, took Steinhardt and others on rides around the race course.
“It was awesome; unbelievable,” Steinhardt said while emerging from the craft.
New movie trailers from the film are being shown to promote “Madison” and Williams said the vintage Miss Madison will likely be towed to Los Angeles to be displayed for the film’s national release and displayed at a premiere in Seattle. The vintage hydro is being towed to several of Hydro-Prop Inc’s six Unlimited hydroplane racing sites this season. Madison was the second stop on the tour.
“We’re all very excited about it and can’t wait until it comes out nationally,” Williams said.
Hydro-Prop Chairman Gary Garbrecht said he expects a big boost to the sport of Unlimited hydroplane racing when the movie is released. “It’s going to expose our sport to new audiences everywhere, many of whom have never seen or heard of a hydroplane racing,” Garbrecht said. “Just wait until they see those roostertails – it’s going to get people excited.”
Garbrecht said he has been in touch with Bindley about ideas for involving the race circuit owners in promoting the film at its race sites around the country. “We plan to get our boat owners in their respective cities to display their boats at local theaters to promote the film,” Garbrecht said.
A premiere party for the movie is being planned at the Ohio Theater, located on Main Street in Madison. The film’s director and co-author Bill Bindley, an Indianapolis native, has said he wants to premiere the film in Madison prior to the national release. Steinhardt said he expects Caviezel to also attend the Madison premiere. Caviezel took part in the Indianapolis 500 Festival in May and attended a private showing of the movie “Madison” there.
Although Bindley has worked several years in Hollywood since graduating from Northwestern University film school, “Madison” is Bindley’s first feature length solo film project. The script is a product of a 10-year-old college project by Bindley’s brother, Scott, who also attended Northwestern. After more than a decade, the film is headed for the silver screen.
Scott Bindley described his experiences in writing and making the movie during an April breakfast forum held in Madison for the Madison Area Chamber of Commerce. Scott Bindley is now working on a film project with Indiana-born rock star John Mellencamp, who narrates the opening of “Madison.”

Tony Steinhardt rides in Miss Madison, July 2002

Bindley’s independent film crew, dubbed Madison Miracle Productions, spent several weeks in the summer and fall of 1999 in Madison shooting race and dramatic scenes. Many scenes were shot during the 1999 Madison Regatta in an attempt to recreate the 1971 Gold Cup victory by the late Miss Madison driver Jim McCormick.
The movie is a dramatic retelling of McCormick’s storybook victory aboard the community owned hydroplane. The film stars actors Jim Caviezel (“Count of Monte Cristo,” “High Crimes”) as McCormick and Jake Lloyd (“Star Wars: The Phantom Menace”) as McCormick’s son, Mike. It also stars actors Paul Dooley, Bruce Dern and Mary McCormack.
The film received positive reviews and standing ovations at premiere showings at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, and at the 2001 Heartland Film Festival in Indianapolis. The film has also been shown in Los Angeles.

“Madison” Movie Credits
Made in USA, 2001
Release Date: Oct. 25, 2002
Distributors: MGM and Premiere Marketing & Distribution Group
Runtime: 94 min.
Executive Producers: Carl Amari, Chris Dennis, Steve Salutric, Roy Millonzi
Producers: Martin Wiley, William Bindley
Co-Producer: Lisa Lloyd
Screenwriters: William Bindlye, Scott Bindley
Director: William Bindley (Credits: “The Eighteenth Angel,” “Judicial Consent”)
Principal Cast: Jim Caviezel (Jim McCormick), Jake Lloyd (Mike McCormick), Mary McCormack (Bonnie McCormick), Bruce Dern (Harry Volpi), Paul Dooley (Mayor Don Vaughn), Brent Briscoe (Tony Steinhardt).
Additional Cast: Kristina Anapau (Tami), James Andelin (Merle), Reed Diamond (Skip), Mark Fauser (Travis), Richard Lee Jackson (Buddy), Matthew Letscher (Owen Henderson), Cody McMains (Bobby Epperson), William Shockley (Rick Winston), Vincent Ventresca (Walker Grief), John M. Watson Sr. (Walter).
Storyline: A somewhat fictionalized account of a true story about an Unlimited hydroplane driver’s surprise victory in the 1971 Gold Cup at Madison, Ind.
Official website: http://www.madisonthemovie.com

Vintage Miss Madison, July 2002

The Vintage Miss Madison (replica) File
Year Built: 1961 as the U-33 Miss Lumberville by Fred Dube of Detroit; later raced as Savair’s Mist from 1963-69.
Year Rebuilt: 1999
Engine: 1710-cubic inch World War II Allison with 2,000 hp.
Top Speed: 160 mph.
Owner: Hydro Museum
Crew Chief: Frank W. Meyer
Driver: David Williams
Dimensions: 30 feet long, 12 feet wide, weight 3 tons
Movie Role: As the Miss Madison, the boat ran more than 1,000 laps and placed nearly 90 hours of racing time on the engine in 11 weeks – equivalent to running six racing seasons end to end. In addition to Madison, Ind., the boat was filmed in scenes in Long Beach, Calif., and Lake Castaic, Calif.